Fluorescent lighting fixture having air-cooled lamp and ballast chamber



June 9, 1953 w -s, AKELY 2,641,687

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING AIR-COOLED LAMP AND BALLAST CHAMBER Filed Feb. 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

June 9, 1953 w s, AKELY 2,641,687

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING AIR-COOLED LAMP AND BALLAST CHAMBER Filed Feb. 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 53 m 4 K 4 52 a2 5 49 /P /8 /7 642 2 X T 4 64 5/ \rl 1 22 I 62 /5 I 22 25 1 2a 2, 59 a/ I E X 35 62 f j ,5 /2 1 1/ I3 I A 36 W 36 r; I I X -24 1 .3 3 q 35 L- 25 2a 1 ,3 I 3/: 2i

INVENTOR. ZMo'lliczmfiflficzy wig Patented June 9, 1953 FLUORESCENT LIGHTING 'FIXTU'RE HAV- .IING .AIRHCOOLED LAMP ANDCBALLAST GHAMBER.

William s. Ake1 ag Park, j Ill. .a ssig nor to frhe Guardian Export Packers- Corporation, Oak Park, 111., a corporation "of"Illi'no i's' Application-February 23, .1'9.5.0,-.S.erial;No. 145,192

My invention relates-to theart of illumination and more particularly to improvements in lighting fixtures of the high intensity outdoor type.

It is aprincipal objectof my invention to provide: an outdoor fixture, especiallyof the fluores- =cent type, having a. plurality of high intensity; lamps and their required auxiliary equipment air flow. channels for cooling theJampsand their auxiliary equipment and as a housing for parts of said auxiliary equipment.

other .objectsandadvantages-of the invention will become apparent as the (description-proceeds when taken in connection.with-thezaccompanyin drawingslin which; l a

Figure 1 is an elevational -v.=iew,of.rapedestal mounted lighting fixture embodyingmmy invenftion, I

Eigure 2 isa broken.elevationabsectional View,

drawn to an enlarged...s.cale, ofmyolig'ht' gfixe ture taken'ontheEline2+2.of,Figure1l,, V

.Figure .3 ,is .a partial sectional. yiew taken o the'l'ine .3-3 .ofjFigure. 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentarygyiew-of; an endirame and air distributing,plate,.and

Figure ,5 is aufragmentary -plan,riewroi aniouter shroud and airinletmember.

Referring now to .thedrawinggin detail and first to Figure 1, my fixture! .isshOWnsupp rted upon ,a pedestal 2. havin an enlarged base memher 3 secured in any, suitablemanner to a supportin isllr'facei Referring 'to.;.Figure .2, .alcombined supportm collar '5 and plate 6 telescopes overlthe upperrend' of the. pedestal. 2..and.1is. rigidly secured thereto by set screws T. A. bottomirame -.plat.ez 8 is-pos i.- tioned, above .the. plate. -\6 .in s'pac ed. relationto provide an air channel'therehetween. Thezirame p1ate'8'is supp rted fromltheplate Bfby. a...plurality; preferably .three,. of .lerellingzstuds hawhich extend through holes I 9 in 'the rplate-B and are secured to the plates .6 and ;8 bytthe levelling 51111115 ID. The fram,e..plate,8 .has,a centralt qpening ii tothejinteriorof hollow upstandingtcolumn memher I2 whichrests upon theplate,siaroundthe opening I' I and is proyided yvith an unturned base flange f3 which receives securing bolts l4 passing v.2 through holes-'2] in the. .plate .8 to secure same .to -thecolumn 12.. The column member 12111313 be circular .sectionbut is preferably, polygonal. Theupper end of the member I2 is .proyided with an intnrned flange. 1.5 which underlies and supportsa topi-rame plate .lii identical' with plateifl except ,for the omissiono'f holes lBHand' the position. of IholesZ-I .asWilI appea-r hereinafter, which is secured to the flange i5 byj bolts. 11 passing through holesin plate 1.5 corresponding liogth'e holes but lpositioned radially, inwardly of the column 12. The. frameplate. .lifiihasla, central opening. 18 Within the perimeter 'oftlie..-.column 1.2-. andu'flange .LE-and substantially aligned'nwit'h thevop ening. Ll. inilthe plate .8; The. elements '8, l2, and I6 thus .iormlarigid. frame for thefixupon tlrepedestali.v

An. outer light transmitting, and. weather shielding casing- .20 extends around the. central .column vl2. .betlw.e,e n.the .platespBLand' {S .toiorm the, outer wall of an annular lamp. chamber. .The. casing. 20 consists of. upper. and lower channel .members. 22 ,andJ23, respectively, which receive the upper and lower edgesoftheglasswall 24. which is. secured and sealed in the channels by sealing compound '25.. The. icasingilli. may. be of;known.type..but is: preferably of. the type-made in. .tw.o sec'tionsjhaving. vertica1..- channeLmembers '21.,- qorresponding. to the channels .22? land f213, along. the meeting edges with .thenbases. .of the channels abutting; to seal the rertical .meetihta edges of the casing. sections. A thin gasket may be. interposed between thev abutting channel's. i'fidesired'; ,Qne pair .o'fmthenabutting lchannels m ybe 'hin edto the. plates .83. and 1.6. oreachna'ir maybe secured'together'by any suit'ableiastening means to allow ready removal .oflboth .cas'ingsec tions. The. channel members (22. and. .23. .press firmly'against a sponge rubber .-.sealing gasket. .23 to air seal the topjand bottom portions. otthe casing *with respectto the. plates 8 .and L6..

A pairof lamp supportingj plates 30 surround the column I [at the upper-and lower ends thereof. Each plate S'U has' an outer flange-31 resting turev proper, rigidly .and ,adjustabl'y supported upon one of the frame plates 8 and. I6 to space the: plates 30Fitherefrom and engaging the -ihner face-10f the-sealing gasket 128. *The'plate's' 313- are secured. in-ipositionliby' stud bolts 32 passing through =ho1esi33', see FigurezB, :i-nithe'rplates 30iand threadedly engagingin threadedrholes. arm the plates 8gand- Hi. Each plate- 30 carries aplurality .of lamp-sockets 1,35 eachof which is aligned with a. z-corresponding socket: 011 the plate 30 Eat. :the opposite: end of. the column;l:2-. Each pairrof aligned sockets 35 is adapted to support an elonv gated lamp 36 extending vertically in the annular space between the column I2 and casing 20. A suitable ballast 31 for the lamp 36 is mounted inside the column [2. The casing of the ballast 31 is provided with flanges 38 having notche 39 which receive suitable anchoring elements such as self tapping screws 40 to secure the ballast to the column [2. As shown, all the ballast structure for the lamps 36 is in a single casing but a plurality of casings may be mounted in the column I2 if required by the number and sizeof the lamps 36. The electrical connections. between the source of energy, the lamp sockets and the ballast form no part of the invention and are not illustrated. The wires forming these connections may be threaded through certain air passages to be,

described hereinafter.

An ornamental shroud member embraces the 7 4 ished or enameled to provide a reflecting surface for light and heat radiated by the lamps 36.

It is apparent that the downward facing air inlets 60 lying well within the outer peripheral portions of the fixtures are effectively shielded to prevent rain from entering the fixturealong with the cooling air. The downwardly facing shielded air exhaust duct 55 likewise bars the entry of rain water. All parts of the apparatus are air sealed passages;

except for the above noted air inlet and exhaust The air inlet and exhaust passages arso related to the other portions of the apparatus that any rain which might be splashed or wind driven into the exposed ends of these pas- ,s'ag'e's is barred from reaching the electrical apparatus by substantial vertical passageways V which insure gravitational separation and drainage of such moisture.

The top of the fixture consists of an ornamental air exhausting and weather shielding structure composed of a stack member 49 and an imperforate top dome member 50. The stack member 49 engages the peripheral edge of the plate I6 and is secured thereto by small studs 5|. The upper portion of the stack member 49 is reduced in diameter to form anupstanding cylindrical section 52. The dome 50 has a lower cylindrical portion '53, of larger diameter than and surrounding the cylindrical portion 52 to form'a downwardly facing vertically extending annular air exhaust duct 55 therewith. A plurality of spacing and supporting lugs 54 are secured to the dome 50 and stack 49 to maintain the element in fixed spaced relation.

The shroud section 43 is provided with a plurality of downwardly facing air inlet openingsiBO, see Figure 5, to admit cooling air to the underside of frame plate 8. Air so admitted has a free path of flow between the shroud and plate 18' to Air admitted to the underside of the frame plate 4 forming air chambers therewith and each having 8 also has a free path of flow through openings 6| in the plate 8, see Figure 4, the space between the lower lamp supporting plate 3U.and frame 'plate 8, openings 62 in plate 30, over and T'around the lamps 36 and the 'outer face of column'l2, her and a ballast chamber therein, lamp sup through openings 62 in the upper lamp support ing plate 3!], between the upper-platen and the frame plate 16 and through openings 64 in the upper frame plate l6 to the air exhausting duct55. Y

Iality' of free paths of flow of cooling airare provided to dissipate the heat liberated bythe lamps 36 and ballasti31. The ballast-is rigidly and securely pressed into contact with the column l2 by the screws 40whereby heat is conducted from the ballast into the column 12 which then dissipates this heat to air flowing on both sides thereof. The outer face of the columnfl is p01 The outdoor high light intensity fixture herein described have been found to protect all electrical parts from moisture while maintaining the lamps, ballast and electrical parts at safe temperature levels even though such fixtures must dissipate the heat equivalent of large quantities of electrical energy, in some instances several hundred watts, released by the lamps and ballast. The present construction induces a large flow of cooling air through and around all parts of the apparatus by the chimney effectof the heat imparted to the air with the result that the temperature of all parts of the apparatus is main% tained at levels which are too low to impair the electrical parts of the structure or to meltor destroy the insulation of such parts. 4

The protection herein appliedfor is not limited to the precise details of construction and arrangements illustrated and described, but is in'- tended to include such modifications thereto as 5 From the foregoing it i apparent that ajplumay come within the "scope of the appended claims. 1

I claim: v 1'. A lighting fixture comprising an upstanding cylindrical light transmitting casing, a. tubular member within and spaced from said casing, upper and lower end frames connecting the adjacent ends of said casing and tubular member said end frames having openings to the interior of said tubular member andsaid casing, lamp socketsu'pporting plates surrounding saidtubular member at opposite ends of said casing in spaced relation to said end frames and having air flow openings therethrough, a plurality of lamp supporting sockets on said plates, a plurality .of fluorescent lamps mounted in said sockets, a bale last for said lamps mounted within said tubular member, and cover members for said end frames downwardly directed air passages communicating with said air chambers. I

2. A lighting fixture comprising an upstanding; frame structure formed to providealamp chain-1 members, said air inlet member having a downwardly facing air inlet port therein positioned;

and forming an air chamber with theupper; of said frame members, said. air outlet structure comprising a cylindrical member. secured to said.

upper end memberv around theflair flow ports therein and an imperforate dome member overlying said cylindrical member and. having a depending cylindrical skirt surrounding the upper end of said cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto.

3. A lighting fixture comprising an upper frame member, a. lower frame member, an elongated tubular member joined at its ends to saidllPPer and lower frame members, a light transmitting casing sealed at its ends to said upper and lower frame members in spaced relation to said tubular member to form a lamp chamber with. said tubular member and said frame members, means in said lamp chamber for supporting fluorescent lamps therein, lamp ballasts mounted in said tubular member between said frame members, said upper and lower frame members having openings therethrough to said'lamp chamber and having other openings therethrough to the interior of said tubular member, an air inlet shroud secured to said lower frame member outwardly of with a downwardly facing air inlet port, and an air exhausting and rain shielding structure secured to said upper frame member outwardly of said openings and forming an air exhaust chamber with said upper frame member including means forming an air exhaust passageway from said air exhaust chamber having a downwardly directed outlet.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a cylindrical light transmitting casing, an end plate attached to each end of said casing, a tubular member attached at its ends to said plates and positioned within said casing to define an annular lamp chamber therewith, means within said lamp chamber for supporting a plurality of fluorescent lamps in substantial alignment with the axis of said casing, cover members attached to each of said end plates and defining air chambers therewith at each end of said casing, an electrical ballast supported in said tubular member between said end plates, each of said end plates being formed with openings therethrough providing communication between said air chamber and the interior of said tubular member and said lamp chamber, and each of said cover members being formed with downwardly facing air flow ports.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a light transmitting casing forming a lamp chamber, means for supporting fluorescent lamps in said lamp chamber, a rain shedding shroud structure forming an air chamber attached to the 'upper end of said casing and including means forming an air exhaust passage from said air chamber terminating in a downwardly facing air outlet, a rain shedding shroud structure forming an air chamber attached to the lower end of said casing and having a downwardly directed air inlet port therein, each of said shroud structures having openings therein to said lamp chamber to provide an air flow passageway between said air chambers through said lamp chamber, means in said casing forming an air duct between said air chambers distinct from said lamp chamber, and a ballast in said air duct whereby said lamp chamber and said ballast chamber are cooled by 6 individual air streams; flowing between. said air chambers; I 4

6. An outdoor lighting fixture comprising an upstanding tubular member, an end frame attached to each end of said tubular member, each of said endframes having a portion projecting outwardly of said tubular member and laterally of the axis thereof, alighttransmitting wall member attached to said projecting portions of said end frames and forming asealed lamp chamber with saidcportions of said end frames and said tubular member, a plurality of. fluorescent; lamps in said lamp chamber extending between said projecting portions of said end frames, ballasts for saidlamps in said. tubularmember between saidpend frames, means mountingzsaid ballasts on said tubular member :in heat transfer relation thereto, openings in said end frames providingair flow passageways into andv out of. said lamp chamber and said tubular member;v and a shroud means joined to each of said end frames forming an air chambertherewith, each. ofsaid shroud means being formed with an air flow port providing communication between the exterior of said fixture and the air chamber within'such shroud means, and each of said air flow ports opening below. a rain shedding portion. of said fixture.

'3. A- lighting fixtureadapted to be mounted upon a supporting pedestal; comprising a; cylindrical light transmitting casing, an end plate attached and sealed to each end of said casing, a tubular member attached to said end plates within said casing to form an annular lamp chamber within said casing between said end plates, means within said annular chamber for supporting a plurality of fluorescent lamps, ballasts for said lamps mounted within said tubular member between said end plates, a cover structure attached to the upper of said end plates forming an air exhaust chamber therewith and having a downwardly facing air exhaust opening, a lower cover member attached to the lower of said end plates forming an air inlet chamber therewith and having a central opening for receiving a support pedestal and a downwardly facing air inlet opening between said central opening and the peripheral portion thereof, a mounting plate within said air inlet chamber adapted to be secured to the upper end of a support pedestal within said air inlet chamber, spaced supporting studs extending between said mounting plate and the lower of said end plates supporting said lower end plate from said mounting plate in spaced relation thereto, and each of said end plates being formed with openings communicating each of said air chambers with the interior of said tubular member and said lamp chamber.

8. A lighting fixture adapted to be mounted upon an upstanding support pedestal comprising an upstanding cylindrical light transmitting casing, a light impervious tubular member positioned concentrically of said casing to form an annular lamp chamber therewith, a frame struc-.- ture attached to each end of said casing and said tubular member and having openings therethrough communicating with said lamp chamber and the interior of said tubular member, a shroud on the upper end of said fixture overlying and forming an air exhaust chamber with the upper of said frame structures and having a downwardly directed air exhaust port underlying a rain shedding portion of said shroud, a mounting member adapted to be attached to the upper end of a support pedestal, means supporting the lower of said frame structures from said mounting member in spaced relation thereto 'to allow free air flow around said mounting member into said tubular member and lamp chamber through the lower of said frame structures, and a lower shroud member mounted on said fixture forming an air inlet chamber with the lower of said frame structures and having a down wardly directed air inlet port underlying a rain shedding portion of said fixture, said lower shroud member enclosing said support member and having an opening adapted to receive a support pedestal. 1

9. A lighting fixture comprising; a frame structure including an upstanding tubular member, an upper rain shedding shroud structure forming an air chamber attached to the upper end 01? said tubular member and having a port opening to the atmosphere underlying a rain shedding portion of said shroud structure, a lower rain shedding shroud structure forming an air chamber attached to said tubular member in spaced relation to said upper shroud member and having a port opening to the atmosphere underlying a rain shedding portion of said lower shroud structure, and a light transmitting wall attached at its ends to said shroud structures in spaced relation to said tubular member to define a lamp chamber with said shroud structures and tubular structures through said lamp chamber and tubular member.

WILLIAM S. AKELY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,900,330 Chartrand Mar. 7, 1933 2,355,467 Proulx Aug. 8, 1944 2,364,854 Kallman Dec. 12, 1944 2,511,440 Long June 13, 1950 2,574,886 Phillips Nov. 13, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Booklet B Supplement, March 1941, Mazda Lamp Performance in Service, published by G. E. Nela Park. Eng. Dept. 8 pages. Copy in Division 65. 

